Frito, Dorito, & Moxie...good old fashion Hobbit names; & Gimlet is a fine name for any Dwarven hero. The Furryfootes are doing an admirable job of lulling various & sundry Evil Doers into a false sense of security, & putting Ogres on the endangered species list. WELL DONE!

_________________"I'd NEVER join a club that would have me as a member." Groucho Marx

Week 9--Things and BitzIndianapolis had a real blizzard of sorts Thursday the 20th. Most of us braved the storm. Santa playtable brought gifts and the camera!

The Thing in the WoodsReport by HarganokPhotos by playtable

First off, big thanks to Jim L. for the gifts. Thanks Jim!

Only had time for one game where The Possessed had it out with Bob's Night Goblins in a hunt for the Thing In The Woods during the day, normal weather. This was such a long but good game, I'll try to remember as much as I can. We had 6 forests roughly in a circle near the center of the board. There were 2 Things on the board in the forests at roughly 10 o clock and 2 oclock (from my side).

The Thing at 10 o clock (closer to Bob) charged out into some of his fodder and knocked a couple of snotlings down first turn, but didn't take anyone out. Next turn, Bob counter charged with several of his heroes and an Ogre and started putting some hurt on it.

It took a couple of turns for most of my band to make it close to the other Thing at 2 oclock...

Eventually my frenzied possessed had the impulse to charge it, (and I charged the other possessed in too for good measure). However, the frenzied possessed didn't need the assist, and brutally beat down the multi-wound horror on the charge while suffering no retaliation. About the same time, Bob took his Thing out of action too. The next turn, both Things came back to life on a 5+ regen roll and had to be fought again, but I don't think either one had a chance to fight back before being struck down a second time.

While all this was going on, there was some mostly ineffectual shooting from my guys (though my wizard did manage to take out the warlock hired sword with a flaming arrow), and some more effective shooting from Bob's goblins (he took out a brethren on the left side of the board, stunned another couple near the middle, and took out one more on the right with a ricochet). After this Bob and I started getting to grips around the center of the board.

We had a couple of really good battles going on between several of my henchmen, a mutant and my leader on the left vs 2 of Bob's heroes, and both my possessed and beastmen on the right against a mob of little green guys. After a couple of turns of fighting, we were both in rout check territory. The ongoing fights on the right with the possessed involved were going well enough, but the battle with my wizard, a mutant, and brethren on the left was looking a little hairy....and Bob kept making his step aside rolls, which was even worse!

The Things both came back to life one last time, but we both had guys standing by to battle each one, and I believe both were put down yet again without getting to fight back.

The game ended when Bob failed his first rout check on Ld 7 and the Night Goblins had finally had enough. I had 4 brethren taken out of action (3 of which died) and found a fairy ring that I chose not to desecrate in exploration. Was around 60 point underdog in this one, so everyone got some good xp. Can't remember the Night Goblins that were taken out (a couple of heroes, the hired sword, some shooty henchman and a fanatic or 2 maybe?) , but I do remember one of Bob's minor heroes died - viciously slain at the hands of a possessed.

The Night Goblins report they lost the hired warlock, a fanatic and Da Li'l Basha, a Basha Hero.

GREAT narrative & COOL photos! I see the Night Goblins clever ploy of disguising themselves as ghostly apparitions or unimaginative Trick or Treaters failed...again.

One of my observations of several decades of War Games Watching is that the Oh-So-Cool & Beautifully painted minis normally suffer bloody defeats to their slap-dash painted or bare metal opponents...I think it has something to do with where a gamer places his priorities. That makes this game an anomaly...along with being a good read.

_________________"I'd NEVER join a club that would have me as a member." Groucho Marx

For a short while the fact that playtable took pictures scared a couple of players into doing a bit of painting, myself included, however lately the backsliding is rampant. Something about family, work and stuff. With me its mostly stuff.________________________________________________________________________________________Week 9 Continued...

A Skirmish in the Wilds

Rob's Skaven met the Lamians for the first time. (It was Play Someone You Haven't Played night.)

It was perhaps an experience the Skaven could have gone without. They fled with many casualties. Only the usual single verminkin died though as I recall. [For someone who rolls a lot of ones during games, Rob seems to be spared the ones during Recovery.] The Skaven raided a small farm in the Exploration phase.

The Ancient One earned her 90th experience in the battle and finally maxed out. To celebrate Smalls took the Sprint skill. Joy.

In Exploration the Lahmians rolled six '1s' and found a Griffon nest. The Ancient One gleefully stole 4 eggs at 50+2D6 gold per egg. The Griffon finally showed up and chased the greedy vampire away.

[The work of the Weather Mage Von Roker continues to bedevil the Furryfootes.]

Hervey trudged along the mist hidden track humming an old halfling feasting song about roast turkey, bread-crumb stuffing (with raisins), cranberry sauce, butternut squash....The rest of the company was uncomfortably aware of how hungry they all felt. The last meal seemed a lifetime gone and the next was most uncertain. Hervey had just come to the part about the thirty-three deserts when...

"Oh its so PRETTY! FLUFFY! AND WHITE!" shouted an exuberant female voice from off in the mist. Perhaps it came from the south beyond the ruins of that old tower. The shout was followed by startled shushing noises. "I will not shush! You shush! PRETTY! PRETTY! HEY!"

The Furryfootes scrambled into a rough skirmish line facing the south. "Is it the Mist Daemons?" whispered Hervey.

"Worse," said Ana. "Tis the Mad Middenheimer."

"Ohhh nooos!" whispered the halflings. "Humph!" said Gimlet.

Aina the Mad Middenheimer poirets in the fog. Her comerades advance toward the mist shrouded halflings.

The Furryfootes respond by blundering forward and shooting blindly into the mist. No good comes of this.

The Righteous BrothersThe Brothers find a Bridge to Nowhere. And the Middenheimers strong right flank.

"Who goes there?"

The Middenheimers."Charge!"

The battle.

Post BattleThe Furryfootes fled first with 2 scouts and 2 warriors down. None died and the Furryfootes met a friendly peddlar in the mist who offered great holiday discounts. 20% off!

The Middenheimers stood tall for a turn or two, but the left was too far from the right. The Middenheimrs fled into the fog. One swordsman(?) dies.

The Righteous win for losing or lose for winning. They lose their best zealot (I didn't know you could have a 'best' zealot) and another flagellant. Despite winning, the Righteous could only replace the flagellant.

"Now!" shouted Elder Brandiwick as he raised his crossbow and aimed at one of the fur-clad guards. "For the Moot!" the Furryfoote Company shouted as they left the shallow ditch that had concealed their advance. The Hun'g outriders had a moment to register shock at the appearance of so many halflings, then the cloud of bolts and arrows hit home. The three closest outriders and their mounts collapsed as one. None survived. (Much to Brandiwick's annoyance, he had told his archers to spare the horses!)

"Forward at the double quick!" shouted Brandiwick. "Secure the horses!"

The elder could see the Middenheimers attacking from the other side of the paddock. The marauding Hun'g would be no problem for the Furryfootes, but the Middenheimers were loathe to share.

Post BattleThe Furryfootes captured only one horse. One halfing warrior was killed in the inevitable dispute with the Mercenaries. The halflings routed once the Big Men took the paddock (and struck down 2 warriors and 2 scouts). The Middenheimers used their Holy Relic to avoid another loss. One horse and possibly one warrior died. A hero suffered an Old Battle Wound, perhaps as a result of Multiple Injuries.________________________________________________________________________________________Brigands in the PasturelandsAnother Mist Shrouded Skirmish between the Righteous Brothers and the Ancient One

The Righteous hide in fog and shadow...[The Defender is represented by numbered chits until revealed.]

Woe to the Righteous! The Warrior Priest is down and his horse has fled. The nearly invisible black primed Ancient gloats over the priest's body.

The rest of the ambushing company look on in horror!

Post BattleThe Righteous flee as soon as possible. Despite heavy causualties no deaths are reported amoung the Brothers. The victorious Lahmians blunder into an Empire patrol, who kill a witch, destroy a skeleton and kill the Thrall Bacia II.

Hervey endured the joke as he picked his way through the frozen wood. Ahead of them he could hear the yips, barks and occassional howls of the wolf pack. Hervey feared wolves more than hounds, but under the guidance of the expert hunter, Ana, he felt he could kill ten wolves. Hervey brushed the snow from an ice covered branch. The wolves were scatteed around a clearing. Bones and bits of bloody hide were all that remained of thier feast. The local Graf was losing cattle and horses to the brutes, so Brandiwick had agreed to this hunt to collect the bounty on wolf pelts. Hervey raised his crossbow. Before he could fire the clearing erupted in violence! Two of the wolves fell kicking and bleeding out their lives with crossbow bolts imbedded in their hearts. The other beasts leapt growling upon a Big Man on a tall horse who had ridden into the clearing. Beyond the Big Man Hervey could hear the call of a horn and the baying (and yelping) of hounds.

"Thou children cease bothering these beasts!" an unseen Big Man ordered. "These beasts are the prey of the Righteous Brothers. Begone, in the name of Sigmar I order thee!" A large man with red hair rushed to the aid of the horseman. The red-head chopped a wolf down. Hervey shot another and the horseman finished the third.

A volley of arrows and bolts punched the red-head from his feet.

"Pardon us!" shouted Brandiwick. "We thought he was a wolf!"

"Curs!" shouted the horseman. "Ye shall pay for your errors!" The horseman shouted defiance but wheeled his steed back out of the clearing in the face of the arrow storm.

Post BattleThe Righteous tried to reach the Furryfoote Company's firing line, but the steady volleys of arrows discouraged them. Two halfling warriors and Dorito the scout fell to misadventure. Four of the Big Men fell in addition to Red-Head. The Righteious fell back, leaving the field to the halflings.

All of the Righteous recovered from their wounds. The three halflings all died. However exploration was kind to the Furryfootes. An evil priest was discovered lurking nearby. Brandiwick saw to his execution. The Righteous offered to buy one of the Furryfoote's captured ponies. The Furryfootes toy with the idea of buying a wagon with their loot, but settle for recruiting replacements for their losses.

playtable wrote:

I decided to give the horse to the flagellant. I had given him the ride skill also.Now the warrior priest will have someone to rush forward with, and I bought light armor for the priest, and I'm now down to 9gc.Rating 339, 12 members, 2 hired swords, 5 wins, 13 losses, total of 5 dead heroes and 17 dead henchmen.Except for the lousy average of ws & bs stat. line increases I think I am doing just a hair better than average. No deaths in the last 2 games helps a lot.

I had to work, there was a blizzard and many of us caught holiday bugs. So four gamers kept Thursday night Mordheim going.

The Ancient Battlefield

playtable wrote:

Bob played Chris, Ancient Battlefield. Chris was winning but failed his rout test.Bob wins. One of Bob's goblin heroes killed the Necromancer.

Smalls wrote:

I lost 4 henchmen and fail my route check. We were playing the ancient battlefield. Bob got a lot of xp from killing skeletons and killed the necromancer before she could get the ritual off. One henchmen died, and the three dogs lived.

________________________________________________________________________________________Blood on the Pasturelands

playtable wrote:

I played Nick, the horse raid one, day time, clear weather.I went 1st, warrior priest and flagellant on horses charged an outrider. Warrior priest knocked him off his horse, the horse bolted into the corral (wasn't sure if it would stop or not when it hit the fence) then the flagellant took the rider OOA.Tilean marksman killed the other one on my side.

Nick had 3 outriders by him and took all OOA in 2 turns without a loss.The 6th one, inside the corral was killed by arrows.

I run inside the corral, and within 3 turns I capture 4 horses.Nick captures one (but looses it when he routs).The warrior priest, flagellant (both on horses) and 2 warhounds charge into Nick's line. after a couple more rounds of HTH I have 1 dog OOA and Nick has 4 OOA and is rolling poorly.

Nick routs at first chance. I searched for healing herbs with all my heroes again and STILL can't roll 8+.4 heroes with ride skill on horses. 3 horses in the kitty.I replaced the wardog with another flagellant. I'm up to 358 now with 1gc.

I had just commented last week to playtable that Blood in the Pasturelands was the most popular scenario. Then we rolled 3 Wolf Hunts in one night...

Wolf Hunting in the Fog, Part I

Once again Hervey follwed Ana's slim form through a frozen wood. Although they were near the settlements, the land around them was rocky and barren except for this small wood. Hervey hoped that this hunt would be as successful as the last without costing the company anymore lives. A mornful howl broke the stillness.

"What is it? Are the wolves coming?" stammered Hervey. Although the young halfling was quite an accomplished adventrurer, he still had a nervous streak, especially when wolves or hounds were about.

"The fog," said Ana.

"The fog?" said Hervey. Hervey was also occasionaly a bit slow. Still now that she mentioned it, the mist was getting awfully thick. Far away in the white cloud Hervey could hear the baying of hounds and the sound of hoofbeats. Hervey had a bad feeling about this...

Post Battle

The Furryfoote Company had hired a Thief rather than replace lost warriors. The Thief was attacked by a bear in the fog (while hiding from the fight). The halflings didn't suffer too much from the fog. They could always see at least a foot. However, the latest shipment of arrows was defective. Many ones and twos were rolled. Usually to wound. The Rigjteous, on the other hand could often not see more than 8 inches. This led to some griping, but that is not unusual. Guiles was able to shoot two wolves before the cavalry charge killed the rest.

Elder Brandiwick was ridden down by the very horse he had sold the Righteous. The Thief, Gimlet and lots of halflings fell OOA as well. One halfing warrior and two scouts were killed. Brandiwick suffered the Old Battle Wound. (I was just saying, "No one is Stupid, no one has Old Battle Wounds...") Despite horrible losses, the halflings were able to kill a stag and so were at least welll provisioned. Two scouts were hired to replace those lost.

The Righteous only suffered two OOA (and the bear got one of those). Both recovered. Empire Huntsmen provide valuable information about MORE wolves...________________________________________________________________________________________Wolf Hunting in the Fog, Part II

Harganok wrote:

The Possessed faced off against Nick's Middenheimers in a daytime hunt for wolves.

It was foggy, so we were rolling 4d6 at the top of each turn to see how far we could see. We kept rolling low, so shooting was pretty ineffective throughout (and we both had shooty hirelings for the scenario).

We started off with 6 total wolves (3 closer to my side, one in a ruined tower in the center, and 2 more over on Nick's side). First turn I charged the 3 wolves on my side (taking them all out in short order), while my leader ran and flew up into the center wolf in the tower ruin and fought to a standstill. On Nicks side, he charged into both of his wolves....turning 1 into jelly with about 6 henchmen, and knocking the other down with one of his heroes. Next turn, my wizard Valnir (still fighting the wolf in the middle) took a wound from the beast, but on the return managed to crit the wolf with his pointy stick and pinned him to the wall of the tower, 4 inches away. Nick charged into one of my possessed (Mr. Sinister) around the base of the ruined tower in the center with 3 of his henchmen, but after the round ended, 2 of his guys were stunned and Mr. Sinister was still unharmed.

Next turn, saw some charges from my mutants to take out the stunned henchmen around Mr. Sinister, while Mr. Sinister himself took out the last remaining hench-guy. Nick was close enough to get to me in his turn, so charged 3-4 of his henchmen into several of my wimpy brethren.....but I think his guys all pretty much fluffed their attacks, and I made a couple of lucky 6+ saves vs daggers, so it didnt work out well for him when my brethren started hitting back and actually knocked his guys down with some good rolls. At the end of the turn a bear appeared on the edge closest to us.

On my turn, I charged in with whatever was in range, taking out a few henchmen and stunning one of his heroes who made some nice step-asides, but eventually couldnt fend off everything. Nick routed on his turn to avoid losing any more guys. Win for possessed!

I killed 4 wolves and didn't lose a single model in the game due to some crappy rolls from Nick and some good rolls from me at the right time. Shame that the bear didnt get to jump in the fight! I took out maybe 4 or 5 of Nicks guys, but I think only 1 or 2 actually died. In exploration I found some kind of orc settlement, but only got 2d6 gc from it.

Nick wrote:

Killed some wolves. Ran away. My treasure hunter found 1barrel of Bugman's. I lost one grunt.

We were fighting in Civilized lands in Mordheim, to keep it simple. We had clear weather but we were fighting at night, the Skaven's natural advantage. The game was going in my favor and I had a strong lead for three turns until his Murder, Inc. squad of Skaven heroes just wrecked my warband in one turn! They were experts in murdering humans.

Lost my Ogre, Fiona got Horrible Scars, and Proximo got a Full Recovery. My warband really suffered in this fight from previous wounds I had received last time I played. Hand injuries and the like add up.

At one point I had to stop and look at Proximo's stats because I was like "What the hell? This can't be right."

All in all though it was a great game. Rob played well.

________________________________________________________________________________________SkirmishThe Night goblins fought the Lahmians, possibly in the dark. The battle was a romp for the Ancient One. Many goblins went OOA. Some died. One goblin hero suffers Stupidity and is retired.

(To be continued...)

Last edited by Von Kurst on Sun 13 Jan 2013 - 7:23; edited 1 time in total

COOL REPORTS! What made it for moi is we have a Forum Guy named Mr. Sinister; I have a picture now of a somewhat twisted, decidedly pissed off Swede jumping up & down on a couple of unfortunate Middenheimers..serves 'em right too.

_________________"I'd NEVER join a club that would have me as a member." Groucho Marx

Mr. Sinister, I had forgotten all about the lad. Hopefully his ears are burning and he checks in with the forum. Do your ears burn if people type about you on the internet?

Its taken me forever to finish last week's reports. Perhaps I can get to this week's soon.________________________________________________________________________________________Week 11 Fini

Another Wolf Hunt

playtable wrote:

2nd one I lost against Chris. - daytime - clear weatherI took OOA all of his wolves, some skellies, one hero/vampire-looking gal, and ganged up (3 heroes charged) on his vampire (init.7 - lightning reflexes) but the one chance I got with 3A, S6 flagellant - Jay Leno missed all three hits. The other 2 heroes couldn't hit or wound her either, at least none that weren't saved.

Post battleI lost a zealot,Terrible Tom III, and a flagellant.My best fighter, hero flagellant, Jay Leno, got an Old Battle Wound - bummer!

Thought: The scenario wolf hunt really favors a warband that has horses, sprinters, or great shooting in getting wolves.

________________________________________________________________________________________Enter the Necromancer's TowerOr The Revenge of the Furryfootes

"Does the Enemy live there?" asked Hervey. He was perched amid the ruins of one ancient tower looking accross the desolate landscape toward their goal, the Necromancer's Tower.

"No Comerade Herv," answered Ana. "It is but one of His strongholds from ancient times."

There was a rushing sound, then BOOM! A great explosion of energy erupted in the dead ground between the halflings and the tower. Several scouts, who had been advancing toward the tower, flung themselves to the ground to seek cover. When the dust cleared no one was hurt, but a lone zombie could be seen shambling toward the cowering scouts.

"Brainnnsss!" croaked the zombie.

"Augh!" spat Gimlet. "The smell of zombie kills me buzz every time." The dwarf took a long pull at his flask then sent a crossbow bolt into the zombie. The creature fell with several arrows in the rotting body. The halflings gave a cheer. But another zombie appeared from the maw of the tower's broken door. There was a distant explosion and the sound of shrill screams. Then a bolt of energy screamed over Hervey's head to explode harmlessly against Gimlet's armored chest.

"Magic and zombies!" cursed the dwarf. "Going to need another bottle..."

Post Battle

The Night Goblins failed their first rout test. Brandiwick killed their hired Warlock, Brentway shot and killed the new ogre and two goblins died. The halflings captured the tower and destroyed the evil tome found within. No halflings died, because none were out of action. The theif stole an unattended wagon and Empire Huntsmen told the Furryfootes of a Hermit that had been seen nearby. Good day!

Bob vows to stop buying ogres for the Furryfootes to kill.

Last edited by Von Kurst on Sun 13 Jan 2013 - 10:51; edited 1 time in total

"Whoa there!" cried Stimp as he brought the wagon to a stop. Brandiwick surveyed the fog shrouded hills around him. The hermit's cave was nearby, but where? Guiles had gone ahead to scout, but the Elder had seen no token to guide him for at least a league.

"Pip," Brandiwick called. "Ride ahead and see if you can find sign of Guiles."

"I think he is there," said the scout. He gestured to the west. From the fog bank Brandiwick heard the sound of a hunting horn and the baying of hounds.

"We'd best go save him then," sighed the Elder. "Forward lads!"

The Beast and his knights close in on the hermit's cave.

The Furryfootes forget they can move first...[/i]

Pip spurred his pony deeper into the hills. Ahead he glimpsed a fur-clad warrior. The Big Man fell with an arrow in his thigh even as Pip loosed. Pip could hear more of the chaos warriors calling to each other. He rode more cautiously. He heard screams and warcries from the fog all around him. Suddenly the fog parted and Pip could see a fantastically robed figure brandishing a sword that glowed with a green flame. The Warlock was stooped over a body crumpled on a hilltop.

"Die Sourman!" cried Pip as he urged the pony forward with his knees while firing arrows at the evil wizard.

"You first, Rabbit!" growled the Warlock as he dodged the arrows. The wizard shouted words of power and flew toward the scout with the fiery sword trailing sparks."

The Champions of Chaos attack the wagon as Sourman cuts Pip down in the background.

The halfing warrior, Kit, bravely defies a choas knight.

Post BattlePip suffered Multiple Injuries due to his pony falling on him. 1 scout and 2 warriors died or would have died, except I rolled the Faerie Ring for exploration. Everyone magically got better and the Theif stole a horse from an un-suspecting Merchant.

The Hermit was cruelly cut down by Sourman and the Furryfootes routed. Sourman was in turn killed by Brandiwick. The Champions of Chaos rolled double ones while looking for a supply source and ended up Lost in the Wilds!________________________________________________________________________________________The Foggy Battle for the Farm

I lost horribly. Stupid fog.Stupid farmers (10 showed up), 4 charged Wilde Oscar and his horse right off the bat. He went OOA, but not before his horse ran away, which I sent 2 men after and re-captured.I had 2 heroes and a bunch of henchmen OOA.Red MacDougle has to miss 1 game, Terrible Tom IV died, a new flagellant died (both on their 1st outing), a dog died.

I think the gobos lost a hero and maybe some henchmen.

I forgot to field one of my heroes until my last turn, so he didn't get hurt. He also never shot with his crossbow which I was later forced to sell. I bought him a sword instead ( he has 3A, S4, & Ld9 - his only advances so far)My warrior priest got BS 4 so I wish I could afford to give him something that shoots.I now have 1 - BS5, 2 - BS 4, 3 - BS 3 heroes and a henchman with BS 3. The tillean and ranger never got a BS increase and are maxed out.

I could only afford to hire back a dog and Terrible Tom V.It is funny but the gobos were worried about Terrible Tom's reputation and made sure to kill him in HTH first.I am back down to 12 + 2 hired swords, 2gc, 400 rating

It seems the scenario is a bit off with the farmers. All your heroes need to do is wound them and they get experience. It seems too easy. Unless you get charged by 4 of them.